STRESS? LEAVE IT IN THE FOREST!

 Stress is just one – but highly debilitating – impact on our health and longevity in our seemingly ‘modern’ civilization. Now the Japanese show us that shinrin yoku (soaking in the atmosphere of a forest) can well relieve us from stress mentally/psychologically. Read more...

THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND

As you have learned from our blogs and beyond, not only is our planet, the Earth, a perfectly organized ecologic system strictly based on natural laws. The very same is true for any living species on this globe – man in particular.
 
This implies that our health and longevity depends on our relationship with nature – physically and psychologically.

SCIENTIFIC BACKING

Our ancestors had well established their relationship with nature since they had entered the globe millions of years ago - which we as their successors have mostly forgotten about today! Therefore, it is challenging to look to Japan where shinrin yoku (a term coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982) – meaning walking/resting in the forest – is a well rooted power of health.
 
Not only in general but, yes, also when it comes to stress as a most frequent and debilitating health issue of our civilization. According to research at Chiba University in Kashiwa, Japan, with special reference to no less but 24 different Japanese forests.
 
Proving once again that nature has a major impact also on our mental/phychological health. Even at times when we are not walking but just resting in the forest to take in its atmosphere.
 
By influencing (dropping) the level of the steroid hormone cortisol which otherwise increases in times of stress.
 
With the additional benefit that walking (or even resting) in the forest keeps away those factors which usually enhance our daily level of stress. Such as, inter alia, traffic, traffic fumes, certain urban structures, workplace issues, certain personalities, etc.  

IN A NUTSHELL

Stress is just one – but highly debilitating – impact on our health and longevity in our seemingly ‘modern’ civilization. Now the Japanese show us that shinrin yoku (soaking in the atmosphere of a forest) can well relieve us from stress mentally/psychologically.
 
Above all – this form of ‘medication’ is free of charge!
 
One more example to follow the advice of Harvard University Health Letter Vol. 32/No. 6:

“Patient, manage thyself!”
 

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DISCLAIMER

All information stated in this blog are for your personal education, and not to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.All information stated in this blog are for your personal education, and not to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.